Baba Commandant at Turner Hall Ballroom in Milwaukee on September 27, 2023

Mamadou Sanou -- also known as Baba Commandant -- was the lead singer of this group from Burkina Faso which came to Milwaukee and played a wonderful and energetic set at the Turner Ballroom this past September.

   

Mamadou -- who died unexpectedly of malaria two months after this show -- has been described as eccentric. However I found him to only be graceful and charming on stage as he sang soulfully with a lovely deep growl, and watched the crowd with lively eyes as they danced to his songs.

  

  

The group was well known for mixing traditional music from Burkina Faso with western elements of rock and afrobeat. It is a delightful mix and it is a great shame that we will not be able to see this wonderful band on tour in the US again.

   

Buy their most recent album here.

  

Recording information:

  

BABA COMMANDANT AND THE MANDINGO BAND

2023-09-27

Milwaukee, WI at Turner Hall

Mamdou Sanou: vocals, ngoni

Issouf Diabate: guitar

Wendeya Jessie Josias Ouedragaogo: bass

Cheick Abbas Kabore: drums

Tracklist:

01 Unknown Title (7:16)

02 Unknown Title (6:57)

03 Unknown Title (6:05)

04 Unknown Title (12:43)

05 Unknown Title (7:26)

06 Unknown Title (8:32)

07 Unknown Title (7:35)

08 Unknown Title (7:56)

09 Unknown Title (14:54)

10 Unknown Title (8:38)

Total time = 88:02

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in NOS at mixing board

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

Softare: Audacity, Fission, xAct

Special thanks to Hisham Mayet of the Sublime Frequencies label for helping remove obstacles in the convoluted process of being allowed to tapes concerts at Pabst Theater Group venues, and especially for being pro-taping.

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (529 MB)

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320 kbps mp3 files (223 MB)

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